What is this swarming on my brussels sprouts plants? It's shaped like those green squash bugs ~ wide shoulders that taper to a rounded hind end. It's about 3/8 inch long, orange being the basic color with black spots on each side and a black triangle in the middle below the shoulders. Underneath is basically black with lots of white and orange making a rather intricate and balanced pattern of triangles, ovals and dots. It's not really a beetle, I don't think, but does have wings and a shiny shell covering them. It has six legs and the antennae aren't but maybe 1/8 inch long.

Any ideas? Times like this I wish I had a camera that took close-ups!

(I also posted this on "Garden Talk," so if you remember seeing it somewhere else, no, you're not losing it! LOL!)

Awesome site, Kimberly! Thanks so much! I've got it bookmarked now! It says to control them by hand-picking and smashing eggs ~ just what Louisa's site said and the others I've found. ICK! But atleast I've got lots of practice at that. *grin* Off I go to get my bucket of beer and head to the garden...

Hee-hee, Aimee...the beer's for the bugs ~ I like to send 'em off with a smile on their face (What a way to go, huh?). Then I feed the compost pile's alcohol habit. Now, the bucket of wine's for me. *grin*